Cessna TU206F and amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1 mid-air collision near Riverside, California, November 27, 1983
On November 27, 1983 at about 10:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna TU206F (N7320Z) and amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1 (N20JK), were involved in a mid-air collision near Riverside, California (Fla-Bob airport). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1983 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Fla-Bob · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna TU206F · all TU206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7320Z · no longer on the register · serial U20606356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1 PITTS SPEC
- Registration
- N20JK · no longer on the register · serial 751-H
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna TU206F final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF A CESSNA TU206F, N7320Z, STATED THAT HE ADVISED OTHER TRAFFIC OF HIS POSITION & INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ AS HE ENTERED A STRAIGHT-IN APCH TO RWY 24. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT OFA PITTS SPECIAL S-1, N20JK, HAD RETURNED FROM A LOCAL FLT & HAD REMAIND IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO PRACTIVE LANDINGS. THE PLT OF THE CESSNA SAID HIS ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SPOL MODIFICATION & HE FLEW HIS FINAL APCH AT 55 TO 60 KTS. HE SAID HE SAW THE PITTS STILL ON DOWNWIND WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL APCH. THE PLT OF THE PITTS SAID HE FLEW A STANDARD PATTERN & TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH ABOUT 3/4 MI OUT. HE DID NOT SEE THE CESSNA PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WHILE THEY WERE IN THE LANDIND FLARE/TOUCHDOWN PHASE FOR RWY 24. THE PITTS CONVERGED ON THE CESSNA FROM ABOVE. IT HIT THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA AS THE CESSNA WAS TOUCHING DOWN. THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL RECOMMENDS THAT ACFT ENTER TRAFFIC ON DOWNWIND, ABEAM THE MIDPOINT OF THE RWY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF A CESSNA TU206F, N7320Z, STATED THAT HE ADVISED OTHER TRAFFIC OF HIS POSITION & INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ AS HE ENTERED A STRAIGHT-IN APCH TO RWY 24. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT OF A PITTS SPECIAL S-1, N20JK, HAD RETURNED FROM A LOCAL FLT & HAD REMAIND IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO PRACTICE LANDINGS. THE PLT OF THE CESSNA SAID HIS ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SPOL MODIFICATION & HE FLEW HIS FINAL APCH AT 55 TO 60 KTS. HE SAID HE SAW THE PITTS STILL ON DOWNWIND WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL APCH. THE PLT OF THE PITTS SAID HE FLEW A STANDARD PATTERN & TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH ABOUT 3/4 MI OUT. HE DID NOT SEE THE CESSNA PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WHILE THEY WERE IN THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN PHASE FOR RWY 24. THE PITTS CONVERGED ON THE CESSNA FROM ABOVE. IT HIT THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA AS THE CESSNA WAS TOUCHING DOWN. THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL RECOMMENDS THAT ACFT ENTER TRAFFIC DOWNWIND, ABEAM THE MIDPOINT OF THE RWY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna TU206F from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 141 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L80 Joshua Tree CA at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:21 pm from RAL, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
The factual record for the amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 278 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 86 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.